Car-coupling



T. H. NUNN. GAR COUPLING.

N0. 503,490. Patented Aug. 15, 1%}9'3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. NUNN, OF HUGHESVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,490, dated August 15, 1893.

Application filed May 31, 1893- Serial No. 476,105. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. NUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hughesville, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Gar-Coupler, of which the following is a specification;

The invention relates to improvements in carcouplers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of car-couplings, and to provide one which will be simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction and positive and reliable in operation and which will couple automatically and be capable of ready uncoupling without necessitating going between cars.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-coupling constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing two couplings coupled. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing the operating-lever in an elevated position for uncoupling.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a horizontally-disposed rectangular frame, designed to be secured to and form a part of the framework of a car, and provided at its front with a centrally-arranged draw-head 2. The rectangular frame is composed of front and rear crossbeams 3 and 4, and side beams the front beam is provided with a central recess 6, and forms the upper portion of the draw-head, and the lower portion 7 of the draw-head is constructed of metal and secured to the front cross-beam 3. The opening or recess 6, of the front beam 3, is extended vertically at the center to enable a draw-hook 8 to be lifted out of engagement with a link 9, and vertical bars 10 are fastened to the front face of the beam 3 and have their lower portions beveled at their inner sides to conform to the configuration of the metal lower portion 7 of the draw-head, which is secured to said bars 10. The draw-hook 8 is disposed longitudinally and is provided at its rear end with a perforation and is hinged to the front face of the rear cross-beam 4 by a vertical loop or keeper 11, which also connects the link 9 to the frame at the back thereof. The front end of the draw hook projects slightly beyond the front cross-beam 3 and is adapted to be readily lifted by the link of a twin coupling when cars come together. The link is elongated and projects sufficiently outward from the frame to enter readily the drawhead of another frame. The metal portion 7 of the draw-head consists of flared sides and an inclined bottom and is adapted to readily guide a link into engagement with the drawhook.

The operation of uncoupling is performed by an operating-lever 12, fulcrumed on the rear face of the front cross-beam, adjacent to one end thereof within easy reach from the adjacent side of the car to obviate the necessity of going between cars, and it is provided, at its fulcrumed end, with a projecting foot 13, which is arranged to engage the lower edge or face of a horizontally disposed lever let. The horizontally-disposed lever is arranged above the draw-hook and at a point intermediate of its ends is loosely connected with the draw-hook; the horizontal lever is fulcrumed at one of its ends on the front cross-beam and has its other end arranged adjacent to the foot of the operating-lever. The operating-lever has its upper free end bent outward to form ahandle 15, which, when the cars are coupled, may rest upon the upper face of the front cross-beam and support the operating-lever above the horizontal lever. The operatinglever is adapted to be swung upward and outward, slightly beyond a perpendicular position, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, to hold the draw-hook ele vated out of engagement with the link. In uncoupling, the operator raises one of the operating-levers to disengage its companion draw-hook to release one of the links and then similarly disengages the other dra w-hook.

It will be apparent that the car-coupling is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, positive and reliable in operation, capable of automatic coupling, and adapted.

to obviate the necessity of going between cars either in coupling or uncoupling. The horizontal lever may be arranged Within a keeper 16, which is secured to the front cross-beam to form a stop to limitthe upward movement of the horizontal lever and prevent the operating lever swinging outward sufficiently to disengage itself from the horizontal lever.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In a car-coupling, the combination of a frame carrying a draw-head, a draw-hook, a link proj ecting from the draw-head and adapted to engage the book of a similar coupling, a horizontal lever fulcrurned on the frame and arranged above the draw-hook and connected therewith, and an operating-lever fulcrumed on the frame and engaging the horizontal lever for lifting the draw-hook, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of a frame carrying a draw-head, a draw-hook, a link projecting from the draw-head, a horizontal lever fulcrumed at one end on the frame and connected intermediate of its ends with the draw -hook and located above the same, and an operating-lever fulcrumed at its lower end on the frame and provided with a foot arranged beneath the free end of the horizontal lever and adapted to engage and hold the horizontal lever elevated, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. NUNN.

Witnesses:

J. H. FAGUE, C. A. BALL. 

